The reorganization of the United States Army shortly before World War converted Kentucky's 123rd Cavalry on November 1, 1940, as the 103rd Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion and the 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion.

The 106th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Separate Battalion, began training at Camp Hulen, located near Palacios, Texas, in January 15, 1941.  The unit arrived in Northern Ireland on May 15.  On October 19, when it was transferred to North Africa.  The battalion took part in Operation TORCH, the invasion of North Africa, arriving at Algeria on November 7.  Between November 17, 1942 to May 13, 1943, the 106th participated in the Tunisian Campaign.  The battalion left Africa and arrived in Sicily on July 10. The 106th participated in the Sicily campaign between July 9 and August 17.  On September 16, the 106th departed from Sicily and moved to Italy, remained there until August 12, 1944, and participating in the Naples-Foggia Campaign.  The battalion landed in Southern France on August 15.  The 106th left France on December 20 and went to Germany. The unit returned to the U. S.  December 2nd.  The battalion was inactivated the following day, December 3, 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York. On January 29, 1947, it was reorganized and redesignated as the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion with Headquarters at Glasgow, Kentucky.  Currently the lineage and honors of the 106th is carried by the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery.

Two From This County Died In Action in Italy

Washington Countians Made Supreme
Sacrifice For Their Country on
September 14,1943;
Message Relates Sad News
Services Will Be Held

The Springfield Sun, 14 October 1945, p. 1.

The Washington County boys were killed in action in Italy Tuesday, September 14, 1943, according to messages from the war department to their parents here. Full details not revealed.

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Parrott received a telegram Wednesday morning from the War Department advising them of the death of their son, Sgt. John E .Parrott, and Mr. and Mrs. Rue Carrico received a similar message this morning announcing the death of their son T. Cpl. Joseph R. Carrico.

According to reports reaching The Sun, though unverified, both these boys were killed by the same explosion or fusillade of bullets, their fatal wounding being witnessed by some of their Springfield comrades in arms.

Both boys were members of the. old National Guard Troop in this city and went with the troop to Camp Huelin, Texas, for training; were inducted into the U. S. Army, went to North Ireland as a group, were with the forces invading North Africa, participated in the successful Sicilian invasion, and landed with the Allied forces on the Italian invasion, in which they met death.

Besides his parents, Sgt. Parrott is survived by two brothers, Abell and Robert Lee Parrott, and three sisters, Mrs. Arthur Rogers and Misses Sarah and Nancy Parrott.

Requiem Mass and memorial services for Sgt. Parrott will be held at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning, October 19, at St. Dominic Church in this city, the Rev. Fr. Joseph E. McPherson officiating.

T. Cpl. Carrico is survived by his parents, one brother, Paul Carrico, and four sisters, Misses Beulah, Margaret Ann. Mary Alice and Catherine Carrico.

Solemn Requiem Mass for Cpl. Carrico will be held at St. Rose at 9 o'clock Monday morning, October 18, the Rev. Fr. H. J. McManus, Prior at St. Rose officiating.

Carrico died in Italy Sept. 14, 1943

The Springfield Sun

Editor's note: What follows is a story about a Washington County serviceman who was killed 50 years ago this week during World War II  The Sun is featuring a series of stories about all the county's WWII casualties, that will be published on the anniversaries of their deaths. Carrico's story was written by Tom Duncan Reed.

Joseph R. Carrico was born in a small rural community in Washington County near his parish church of St. Rose. He was the first of six children born to Joseph R. and Alice Montgomery Carrico on Sept. 18,1921. His brothers and sisters include Mary Alice Carrico. Beulah Smith, Catharine Hill, Margaret Ann Tingle and Paul Carrico. He grew up on the farm and attended Badget Public School for his early schooling.

In the fall of 1940 he enlisted in the Kentucky National Guards, joining Battery C, 106th Coast Artillery (A.A.A.) Battalion based in Springfield. It was just a few days later the Battery was inducted into federal service.

On Sept. 9. 1943. Battery C made its third amphibious invasion at Salerno, Italy. The enemy resistance at the early stages of the landing were not too great but day by day it stiffened.

Sept. 14, 1943 was a fairly warm and clear day, especially for our aircraft to attack the enemy. That day friendly P-40 fighters attacked German targets just beyond the battery's' position.

One P-40 dove for a German target, released its bomb load and strafed the targets. It came out of its dive right over our gun position. As the P-40 approached our position I thought it was on fire, because smoke was tailing its wings. But this observation was wrong. The smoke I saw was from its guns firing.

In a split two seconds 50 caliber bullets hit our half-tract where T-5 Joseph R. Carrico was seated in the ready-seat and was struck by the 50 caliber bullets from the P-40. Along my side was our gun Sergeant John E. Parrott who also had been mortally wounded by this aircrafts' fire. Also, Henry Spence of Mt. Sterling, suffered fatal wounds.

As I recovered and got to my feet. I observed the planes fire power bad also ignited some of the ammunition on our half tract. Grabbing the only fire extinguisher with our ack - ack gun, I ran to the rear  where there is an opening on the armor and which contains the two firing seats. Slumped over in the  ready-seat and wounded by the P-40 fire was T-5 Joseph R. Carrico. One other of our gun crew helped  me to lower him to the ground, where I thought I detected a slight pulse. It was less than five minutes  before a medics crew was with our gun crew. While Sgt. Parrott was being placed on a weapons-carrier (an open truck about the size of a pickup truck) the medic was caring for T-5 Carrico, but reported his wounds were fatal. His body was transported to the rear along with that of Sgt. Parrott and Spence.

It was learned later by our commanding officer that the plane that strafed our gun section had been hit by enemy fire. The P-40's guns were out of control. The remains of Joseph R. Carrico were laid to rest in the Military Cemetery at Salerno, Italy, where they rest to this very day. John R., as we all knew him, was a dedicated soldier, a sincere religious person, and a wonderful son and brother.